According to data released by the National Health Crisis Management Research Agency,From October 6 to 12, more than 3,800 targeted medical institutions in Japan more than 9,000 cases of flu, and the number of new cases has increased for eight consecutive weeks.
The latest data shows that in the 41st week of 2025 (October 6-12),More than 3,800 medical institutions across Japan a total of 9,073 cases of influenza.Average eachHome Report 2In 36 cases.It was about 1.5 times that of the previous week and 2.65 times that of the same period last year.
According to Japan’s standards, the average number of cases of influenza per week by each medical establishment is more than 1, which marks the entry into the flu epidemic season, and if this number is more than 10, it reaches the “warning alert” level (lower than the alert level). According to this standard, in the 41st week of 2025, about two-thirds of the 47 prefectures across Japan have entered the flu season.
According to the latest data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, affected by the spread of influenza,As of the 12th, a total of 998 nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Japan were closed or some grades and classes were closed.In the week from 6 to 12 October alone, 328 educational institutions were either closed or partially closed.
The Ministry of Health and Labour of Japan announced on October 3 that the country has entered the flu season, five weeks earlier than in 2024.
Image Source: Eastern IC
Vinod Balasubramaniam, a molecular virologist at Monash University in Malaysia, Australia, said:Increased international travel after a new coronavirus may be one of the reasons the flu season arrives early.Other factors include climate change, as well as the lack of opportunities for people to be exposed to the epidemic, especially older people and young children.
Information on the strain circulating in Japan has not been released, but Barr pointed out that the outbreak may have been triggered by a strain of influenza A called H3N2. In the past two months, the virus has surged in Australia and New Zealand. He said that a large number of Australia people traveling to Japan means that the risk of the virus spreading between the northern and southern hemispheres increases significantly.
Balasubramaniam said that other countries, including Malaysia, also experienced an early flu season this year, with the H3N2 strain dominating. About 6,000 students werely infected in Malaysia and some schools had been shut down. Barr said that there has been an early rise in influenza cases in Australia and New Zealand, and more than one strain of the virus has appeared in the outbreak.
Barr pointed out that as countries in the southern hemisphere are entering a warm season, the spread of the virus will weaken,Japan’s current flu outbreak is unlikely to evolve into a global pandemic, but it is likely to spread from Japan to neighbouring countries, or along the route from Japan.”Barr said countries that are entering winter are more prone to outbreaks.